Description:From the Introduction: “It was understood that the formative period in the Christian traditions of Syria and Armenia would be a subject of special interest to Byzantinists: Syria and Armenia were ever a stimulus and a thorn in the side of the Byzantine Empire. Nevertheless, our focus has not been on their impact on Byzantine culture, but on the distinctive traditions of their geographical area in and for themselves. Taking the ninth century as a later limit, we proposed to explore some of the forces that formed these early Christian cultures, the special symbiotic relationships among them, and their extraordinary accomplishments and maturity.”